War’s Silent Victims: Hidden Impacts of the 2024 War on Lebanon
April 28, 2025 (12:00 PM – 6:00 PM)April 29, 2025 (9:30 AM – 6:30 PM)
LAU Beirut campus, AKSOB 903
LAU invites you to a two-day multidisciplinary conference titled War’s Silent Victims: Hidden Impacts of the 2024 War on Lebanon.
The conference will address the profound impact of war on Lebanon’s society, environment, and economy, bringing together experts, policymakers, and humanitarian organizations to explore recovery strategies. Discussions will cover humanitarian crises, including displacement, gender-based violence, and cultural heritage loss; environmental destruction affecting ecosystems, agriculture, and public health; and economic devastation with a focus on rebuilding communities and sustainable recovery. Through dialogue and collaboration, the conference seeks to develop recommendations for Lebanon’s long-term resilience and sustainability.
To register, click here
Agenda
Day 1 – April 28, 2025
LAU ASCE Student Chapter Event (9:30 – 11:45)
The LAU ASCE Student Chapter will be hosting ASCE student chapters from universities across Lebanon (including AUB, Balamand, BAU, ESIB, NDU, USEK, LU, etc.) for a roundtable discussion on the engineering dimensions of the war on Lebanon and the role engineers can play in contributing positively to reconstruction efforts.
The discussion will feature two prominent engineers: Bassam Sabbagh, from the Ministry of Environment, and Maher Ezzedine, from the engineering consulting firm SETS International.
Conference Details:
| 12:00 – 12:30 | Registration | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:30 – 13:00 | Opening remarks |
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| 13:10 – 13:25 | Session 1: Humanitarian Crisis and Social Impact | Session Keynote Speaker: Myriam Sfeir (LAU) |
| 13:25 – 14:30 | Lunch | |
| 14:30 – 15:30 | Impact on Civilians – Focus Women and Girls |
Moderator: Bahia Abdallah (LAU) Farah Hammoud (UNICEF) Ghida Anani (ABAAD) May Aoun (Save the Children) Dalal Jabbour (International Rescue Committee) |
| 15:35 – 16:35 | Impact on Civilians – Psycho-social Support and Community Resilience |
Moderator: Pia Tohme (LAU) Leyla Dirani (AUB) Mia Atoui (Embrace) Farah Al Shami (ARI) Jasmin Diab (LAU) |
| 16:40 – 17:40 | Public Health Impacts |
Moderator: Hussein Hassan (LAU) Fadi El Jardali (AUB) Alissar Rady (WHO) Bedros Kazazian (Ministry of Public Health) Zeina Akiki (LAU) |
Day 2 – April 29, 2025
| 9:00 – 9:30 | Registration | |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30 – 9:45 | Session 2: Environmental Destruction, Agriculture and Food Security, and Heritage Loss | Session Keynote Speaker: Nadim Farajalla (LAU) |
| 9:50 – 10:50 | War-Induced Environmental Damage |
Moderator: David Aouad (LAU) Issam Srour (AUB) Bassam Sabbagh (Ministry of Environment) Wassim Daher (South Lebanon Water Establishment) Lamia Mansour (World Bank) |
| 10:50 – 11:20 | Coffee Break | |
| 11:25 – 12:25 | Destruction of Forests, Farmlands and Natural Ecosystems |
Moderator: Chadi Mohanna (Ministry of Agriculture) George Mitri (University of Balamand) Veronica Quattrola (FAO) Maya Nehmeh (LRI) Yasmine Fakhry (LAU) |
| 12:30 – 13:30 | Cultural and Heritage Loss |
Moderator: Carine Lteif (LAU) Laure Salloum (Ministry of Culture) May Haidar (Lebanese University) Tala Alaeddine (Public Works Studio) |
| 13:30 – 14:30 | Lunch | |
| 14:30 – 14:45 | Session 3: Economic Devastation and the Path to Recovery | Session Keynote Speaker: Walid Marrouch (LAU) |
| 14:50 – 15:50 | Governance Frameworks Pre, during and Post-War |
Moderator: Makram Ouaiss (LCPS) Farid El Khazen (LAU, Former Ambassador and MP) Sami Baroudy (LAU) |
| 15:50 – 16:20 | Coffee Break | |
| 16:20 – 17:20 | Economic Consequences: |
Moderator: Hussein Zeaiter (LAU) Salah Osseiran (BPC Holding) Nabil Fahed (Fahed Group) Sami Geadah (Former director IMF) |
| 17:25 – 18:25 | Rebuilding the Nation |
Moderator: Suzanne Baaklini Ghassan Moukhaiber (Former MP) Ibrahim Chamseddine (Former minister) Mohamad Ayoub (Nahnoo) Serge Yazigi (Atelier Yazigi) |
| 18:25 | Wrap up | |